European football has suddenly, and hopefully only momentarily, escaped the reach of AS Monaco after a 2-0 loss to Stade Rennais away on Saturday, May 27.

The visiting Monegasques managed to hold off their hosts for the whole of the first half, but Rennes reemerged from the locker room ready to strike, and that they did twice.

Croatian international Lovro Majer was left all alone in the box, giving him time to strike the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to open the scoring at the 52nd minute.

Just over 20 minutes later Benjamin Bourigeaud got his second assist of the night, having found Amine Gouiri who had no trouble making an unstoppable shot past Alexander Nübel in between the Principality’s posts to score the final goal of the fixture, making it 2-0 at the 73rd minute.

With this loss Monaco provisionally move from fourth place down to sixth, with the opponents of the day, Rennes rising above their visitors to fifth place.

Monaco must make it into the top five places to qualify to play in European tournaments next season, making the next and final game of the season at home against Toulouse on Saturday, June 3 a must win.